Boss of Buckley company blasts dirty rotten scoundrels

SKIP-LOADS full of rubbish were left piled high outside the gates of a recycling centre closed by a day of strike action.

Sofas, white goods and piles of other rubbish was left to fester outside the entrance to the recycling centre on Spencer Industrial Estate when the facility was closed for a day of public sector industrial action.

The piles of mess left an ugly blot near the entrance to the industrial estate, where business owner called the situation “unacceptable”.

And Gregg Ashfield, managing director at Grantech Ltd and Buckley Memorials, said Thursday’s strikes highlighted a long-running problem and that Flintshire Council shold be doing more maintain the estate.

Flintshire Council have offered to discuss his concerns.

“The public shouldn't just dump the rubbish and if they do they should be named and shamed,” an angry Mr Ashfield told the Leader.

“It’s madness – horrible. But if it looks like a tip, people will treat this industrial estate like that.”

Mr Ashfield added that he has landscaped and maintained the area around his memorials business, which is currently going through a phase of expansion, creating 12 new jobs at the firm.

But he said he expected the council to pull its weight too.

“It was a jungle a year ago but we have cleared up as best we can,” he said.

“I was given permission to do it by the council at our own cost – but the council needs to do its’ bit too.

“I can’t keep spending money on my side when other parts are such a mess. I’m trying to attract business.”

In May, the Leader reported how Mr Ashfield’s business was targeted by vandals twice in two weeks.

He revealed the vandals have since struck again but feels the neglected appearance of overgrown trees, shrubs and weeds invite fly-tipping and make the place a target.

Last summer, Flintshire Council gave Grantech the green light to build new 10,000 square foot premises on the industrial estate at Globe Way.

A Flintshire Council spokesperson said: “The Buckley household waste site was closed on Thursday due to a one-day national strike by public sector workers.

“Signs were placed on the gates notifying the public of the reason for the site being closed. This resulted in members of the public depositing waste outside of the site.

“The site was opened as usual on Friday morning and the waste was then cleared.

“The council has not previously been notified of any concerns from local businesses regarding the general maintenance of the site but we would be willing to meet and discuss their concerns.”